Okay, that last line didn't work too well. In lieu of a seed part challenge for this month, we're going to have a themed challenge. Build a castle-themed MOC with a Halloween twist! This could be anything from a custom fig to a full haunted castle. However, the criterion will be the MOC that best emulates the spirit of Halloween, not the size of the creation, so a small vignette could be a good as a giant layout. No prize here, just the glory of being the spookiest forum member. E-mail me (bnh@chem.ucla.NOSPAMedu) links to your entry, or post them here, by midnight on October 31. The moment the holiday ends, this contest will turn into a pumpkin:

I made a Lego trick or treat film. Basically when ever a trick or treater would ring this one guys door bell he would shoot them. Kinda demented but it was my fear as a kid. Plus I was testing out a cool green screen effect where you could see through the body where the bullet hole was. Ok. im rambling...

Bathory 1&2 are based on a legend about the infamous Countess Bathory. (Google her if you're confused) I may add more Bathory Pictures before the contest deadline.

Trickortreat 1-5 are meant to be viewed sequentially.

That's a sweet Elizabeth Bathory you've got there. She looks so nonchalant, which makes it hilarious. Then you realize that Elizabeth Bathory really did bathe in the blood of young girls, and it stops being so funny. Then you look at the pictures again, and you can't help but giggle again. Oh, those crazy Transylvanians!
A couple interesting notes: Elizabeth Bathory was part of the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula, and she may have been distantly related to the 'real' Dracula, Vlad the Impaler.

"Always do what you want, and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." ~ Doctor Suess

It's inspired by the legend of the Moddey Dhoo, a supernatural black dog which was said to have terrorised the garrison of a local castle in the 1600's until a lone (and drunk!!) guard dared to face it alone - check out the story here:
www.isle-of-man.com/heritage/sites/peel ... ddey.shtml

Not a lot of entries, but the ones we got were great. Here are the results:

Second runner up: Rogue's Trick or Treat. While there is not a lot here in terms of construction, this one works great as a comic, with a very funny payoff.

Runner up: Greg's Being Watched. This one makes really effective use of light-up elements to suggest the creature in the dark. This MOC is enhanced by its connection to a legendary story.

And the envelope please . . .

The winner: Rogue's Countess Bathory. This one has a lot going for it. There is really great construction, including the blood running down the side of the tub and on the floor, the shape of the tub itself, the chandalier, the arches at the top, but especially the way the fig's torso and leg are attached. This is also by far the creepiest, especially when you read up on the historical backstory.

Congratulations, Rogue. You have earned the right to call yourself the spookiest MOCer on c-c.com. At least until next Halloween rolls around.

I'd feel a bit better about this if there were more than 3 entries. (or were there?) Right now, it looks like I managed to beat myself and one other guy. Still, I'm quite pleased with my Countess Bathory Vignette. The number of Brickshelf views it has gotten would suggest that other people like it as well. (at least compared to my other pictures)

I wasn't sure if I should reveal what was inside the tub. It takes away some of the mystery, but I decided it was worth sharing. I was also wondering if I would get in trouble for "nudity" if the blood wasn't covering her chest. (It seems silly, but I can't be sure what people will think)

Want to know a secret? I do not have any plain yellow torsos. If you could see Elizabeth's back in those pictures, it would be covered with stripes, for she is really a pirate deckhand with the arms reversed!

Thanks, that's the look I was going for with her pose in the tub. It looks funny but makes you feel bad about thinking it's funny.

A couple interesting notes: Elizabeth Bathory was part of the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula...

That, like many facts surrounding Elizabeth Bathory are debatable, but it certainly seems likely that she inspired BS's Dracula. The Prime Minister who led the raid and trial was a member of the Bathory family, so he tried to hide, obscure, or understate as many details as possible to protect his family's name and fortunes.

Anyway, congratulations to everybody else who entered the contest, including the runner up!